As we know, President Trump likes to fire off wild ideas which have little chance of coming to fruition. Chasing after every Truth Social post is a fool’s errand that distracts from the major issues at hand. But the President’s recent call to re-open the prison at Alcatraz strikes at the heart of San Francisco’s history and tourism economy. Consider this our obligatory report on the subject.
The President made the announcement Monday on X.
REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ! For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering. When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. No longer will we tolerate these Serial Offenders who spread filth, bloodshed, and mayhem on our streets. That is why, today, I am directing the Bureau of Prisons, together with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security, to reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt ALCATRAZ, to house America’s most ruthless and violent Offenders. We will no longer be held hostage to criminals, thugs, and Judges that are afraid to do their job and allow us to remove criminals, who came into our Country illegally. The reopening of ALCATRAZ will serve as a symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE. We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
Colloquially known as “The Rock,” the prison at Alcatraz was used to house federal inmates from 1934 to 1963. As Trump has said, some of the most notorious criminals in history were housed there, including Al Capone and George "Machine-Gun" Kelly. It gained a reputation, not just for its hardcore inmates, but for its inescapability. The Rock sits 1.2 miles off the coast of San Francisco in treacherous waters frequented by great white sharks. An escape meant almost certain death.
The prison wasn’t closed because America wanted to stop locking up criminals; it was shut down because the costs were enormous and prohibitive. The island has no running water. Every drop had to be brought in by boat from the mainland. So did all fuel, food and other supplies. The surrounding saltwater environment also causes rapid deterioration of any structures. By the 1960s, the prison was in need of costly repairs that would have been extremely difficult to maintain.
Alcatraz became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in 1972 and was opened to the public a year later. In 1986, it was designated a national landmark. Today, the old prison and museum draw 1.4 million visitors per year. Annual revenue is around $60 million.
The administration does have the power to reopen the jail. However, any serious attempt would spark lawsuits from state and local officials. The prison would have to be demolished and rebuilt at a substantial cost, and it could only hold around 350 inmates.
Most people don’t appear to be giving Trump’s idea much credence.
“The President's proposal is not a serious one," former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) said on X.
Mayor Daniel Lurie repeated Pelosi’s statement verbatim.
"There's a lot we could use money on, besides renovating an ancient crumbling museum on an island," said Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco).
Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) called the idea “absurd on its face.”
Federal officials don’t have the luxury of writing Trump off. When asked by Axios, Bureau of Prisons Director William K. Marshall III replied: “We will be actively working with our law enforcement and other federal partners to reinstate this very important mission."
Never a dull moment in Trump 2.0.